"What the hell?"
CAROLINE'S POV:
"It's nice to see you too, Caroline." he chuckled
"Don't you dare!" I proclaimed "This isn't funny, Stefan."
"C'mon, Caroline, lighten up…" he replied "It's not as if we're lying about something huge."
"You don't think this is huge?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him
"No, not really." he admitted "Why do you?"
"Because she's my Mom, Stefan," I sighed "and she brought me up to be an honest human being."
"Well you've messed that up, well and truly." he replied
"Not me, you. You're the one who lied to her." I informed him
"So you didn't tell her that your "boyfriend" had a family emergency and couldn't make it instead of telling her that he didn't actually exist?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me "Yeah, I thought so."
"Shut up!" I proclaimed, sighing heavily "Why are you even here?"
"Because I know you're lying to me." he replied "There's something you're not telling me…"
"You're crazy." I informed him
"How come you can't look me in the eye then?" he asked "If you look me in the eye and tell me there's nothing wrong then I'll leave…"
"How can you leave when you've just shown up?" I inquired "You're stuck here, just like me. And thanks to you we have to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend."
"It won't be that bad, you wait and see." he replied
"You're on the floor." I informed him
"Really? How is that fair when you get that big bed all to yourself?" he questioned
"Don't push it, Stefan. I'm warning you." I admitted "Now let's go downstairs. You can meet Mom's fiancée and then we can go to bed."
"We?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me
"You know what I mean." I replied, rolling my eyes at him
STEFAN'S POV:
"So, Stefan, what are you studying at college?" Caroline's Mom asked as Caroline and I sat across from her and her fiancée
"History and journalism." I informed them "Journalism's my main aim, but I love history."
"Is that how you and Caroline met?" she questioned
I glanced at Caroline and nodded my head… "Yeah. We were paired up together for an assignment and we just clicked."
"So I can see. There's so much chemistry between the two of you." she proclaimed
"Mom…" Caroline sighed
"She's just telling the truth, Caroline." I informed her "You can't deny it…"
"I'm going to get a refill, does anybody else want anything?" Caroline inquired
CAROLINE'S POV:
I walked into the kitchen and set my glass down, leaning against the breakfast bar, composing myself when I heard footsteps. Turning, I saw Mom stood in the doorway…
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she questioned
"Nothing, Mom, I'm fine." I replied
"You can't lie to me, sweetheart, you never have been able to and never will be able to." she informed me "Are you not happy that Stefan's here?"
"Of course I am, it's just…" I sighed
"Just what?" she inquired "What is it, Caroline?"
As I was about to reply, I saw Stefan make his way down the hallway towards the room and shook my head… "It's nothing, honestly."
"Is everything okay?" Stefan asked
"Maybe you can find out what's wrong with my daughter, Stefan." Mom sighed "Because she won't tell me what's bothering her…"
Stefan smiled at her weakly… "I'll try my best. And John said something about getting the photo albums out."
"I think Stefan and I are going to have an early night…" I admitted as Mom was about to reply
"Caroline, it's only 8:30pm…" Mom replied
"I know but I'm exhausted after my drive and I'm sure Stefan is too, right, Stefan?" I asked
He glanced at me and nodded his head… "Unfortunately so. Another time, maybe."
"I'm going to hold you to that." Mom informed him "Sleep tight, lovebirds."
STEFAN'S POV:
Caroline made her way back into her bedroom a little while later, holding some bedding for me in her hands. Handing it to me, she moved to her dressing table and began to remove her make-up and I couldn't help but watch her…
"Take a picture, Stefan," she sighed "it'll last longer."
"When are you going to let this go, Caroline?" I questioned
"We're lying to my Mom, Stefan," she replied "I can't let this go!"
"Fine, then why don't you come out with it and tell her that we're not together?" I suggested
"I can't do that either…" she sighed
"Why?" I inquired "What's going on, Caroline?"
She threw the face wipe she'd used into her bin and sat down on the edge of the bed, fiddling with her hands that sat in her lap…
"Caroline, this is me you're talking to, you can tell me anything…" I informed her "What is it?"
CAROLINE'S POV:
"Caroline, this is me you're talking to, you can tell me anything. What is it?"
I could feel the tears begin to sting the backs of my eyes and tried to force them not to come, my hand covering my mouth as I began to sob as I continued to look at Stefan as he sat opposite me, his arms pulling me into him, my head falling to his chest, his fingers tangling in my hair, his hand rubbing up and down my back soothingly…
"What is it, Caroline?" he questioned
"It's my Mom," I admitted through sobs "she's sick. And she's not going to get any better."
Caroline's FINALLY told Stefan the truth, and they're continuing with the façade they're actually together – will their lies come undone?